Young people are uniquely vulnerable to bullying – as both victims and perpetrators. kid-josh/Flickr

by Debra Rickwood | The Conversation

“The recent arrest by Canadian police of two young people who allegedly shared a photo of a young woman being sexually assaulted has once again highlighted the danger that social media can pose for teenagers.

“The 17-year-old girl was bullied after the photo, which was taken in 2011, went viral. She died a few days after a suicide attempt in April.

Canadian police initially failed to lay any charges despite a year-long investigation. But the case has caused such outrage that Nova Scotia, the province where it took place, has introduced a law allowing people being bullied online or their parents to sue the perpetrator.

“This kind of case is becoming more common with the proliferation of social media and Australia is in the enviable position of not having had a case of cyberbullying leading to death.

“And there are things we can do to ensure we don’t have to.”

Click here to read this article at The Conversation in its entirety.